Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum radiated with sportsmanship and global unity as the SPORTEL Awards 2024 took centre stage on October 28th. This year’s ceremony, held in the resplendent Prince Pierre Hall and broadcast live on TV Monaco, was a fusion of innovation and the sheer magic of sport.
Champions and Icons Gather in a Dazzling Showcase
Hosted by Marc Maury, a former decathlete and rugby player, the purple carpet, a striking nod to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ athletics track also set the tone. Athletes from a wide range of disciplines, both legends and rising stars, graced the ceremony. Flessel-Colovic, the French fencing champion and former Minister of Sports led an eclectic jury of sports and media luminaries. Joining her were figures like Pauline Déroulède, the top-ranked French wheelchair tennis player, and Florent Piétrus, a Peace and Sport Champion.
Memorable Performances and Celebrated Winners
One of the night’s highlights was a breathtaking acrobatic display by Nicolas Fleury, who, on his BMX bike, brought the values of sport to life with gravity-defying feats. Equally engaging were interviews conducted by Nelson Monfort, who brought recent French sports medalists to the stage.
Golden Podiums
The Golden Podiums were awarded to this year’s most captivating sports sequences, while the Renaud de Laborderie Book Prize went to The Last Heroes: 100 Moments of Olympic Legend, published by Assouline, a work that captures the timeless spirit of the Olympics. The Legend Award was presented by Louis Ducruet, representing HSH Prince Albert II, to the handball legend Nikola Karabatic. As a three-time Olympic champion and four-time world champion, Karabatic stands as a symbol in the world of handball. Dominique Rocheteau, a beloved figure in French football, received the Autobiography Award for his memoir Foot Sentimental, a work praised for its authenticity.
Industry Leaders and the Future of Sports Media
Beyond the celebration of athletes, the SPORTEL Awards were just one aspect of a larger, dynamic event: SPORTEL Monaco 2024. Over three days, the Grimaldi Forum buzzed with more than 2,000 participants and 800 companies from 72 countries. Leaders from the worlds of media, technology, and sports rights gathered to discuss the future of sports media and explore innovations reshaping the industry.
This year, an array of conferences provided attendees with fresh insights. The Conference Summit featured cutting-edge presentations from tech giants like AWS and LiveU, exploring AI advancements and video streaming technologies. A new addition, the Innovation Stage, was a platform for emerging companies to pitch their revolutionary ideas.
Speakers like Marco Materazzi and Gerard Piqué captivated audiences with their post-career entrepreneurial journeys. The Women’s Lunch, a highlight celebrating female leaders’ achievements in the sports industry, added depth.
The Visionaries Behind SPORTEL Monaco
Laurent Puons, CEO of SPORTEL, expressed his pride in this year’s event: “This ceremony highlights images and stories that illustrate the finest values of sport. Our champions embody courage, perseverance, and excellence”.
Looking Ahead
The 2024 edition of SPORTEL Monaco set a new standard, celebrating both the best of sports and the rapidly evolving technology that connects us all to these unforgettable moments. As the event concluded, a clear message emerged: the power of sport, and the industry that supports it, continues to inspire, innovate, and connect people across the globe.
